Illuminated color changer for spot and flood lights



Sept. 24, 1929.

W. S. DREW ILLUMINATED COLOR CHANGER FOR SPOT AND FLOOD LIGHTS FiledJune 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l QQQQQQQ 5o INVENTOFL By W. 5. DREWQTTORNEYS,

Sqapt. 24, 1929. w, s, DREW I 1,729,163

ILLUMINATED COLOR CHANGER FOR SPOT AND FLOOD LIGHTS Filed June 29, 19272 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W. 3. DREW BY 1 FI'TTORNEYS Patented Sept. 24,1929 UNITED STATES WILLIS STEWART DREW, OF LANKER SHIM, CALIFORNIAILLUMINATED COLOR CHANGER FOR SPOT AND FLOOD LIGHTS Application filedJune 29,

My invention is a color changer for spot, flood and border lightsparticularly adapted for theatre or similar use where it is frequcntlydesired to make quick changes of the color of the light cast by the spotlights or other illuminant being employed.

An object of my invention is the construc tion of a color changersuitable for spot lights and other illuminating devices, in which aplurality of color screens may be conveniently packed together in abox-like stai'ucture, any one or more of which may be manipulated tomove in front of the illuminating device, or to be quickly withdrawntherefrom. Another object of my invention is the construction of anassembly of different color screens slidably mounted to shift in frontof 'or away from a spot light and to have these operative from eitherside of the assembly. I

Another feature of my invention is in identifying each of the handles bymeans of which the screens may be moved to or from operative position,by providing an aperture in the base of the box life structure adjacenteach of the'handles and interposing a translucent film between theaperture and a source of light within the base, the color of the filmcorresponding to the color of the associated screen. As a result, in adarkened theatre the operator can manipulate the proper handles to usethe desired screens, without being in danger of using the wrong color.

Another feature of my invention is the particular mechanical movement oflevers and links by means of which the color screens may be moved intoand out of operative position before an illuminating device.

In constructing my inventionI provide a box-like casing which has anopeningextending completely therethrough at the up. per part thereof,through which light may be projected; and in the box-like structure ismounted a series of supporting frames, each slidable upwardly anddownwardly in 1927. Serial No; 202,316.

the casing and having a translucent color screen on. each of the framesexcept one which carries an opaque screen to block out thespot light.Adjacent the base of the eas- .lng there are a plurality of pull rodshaving handles; and these pull rods are connected by links to the leversof the frame so that any. particular frame or combination may .beelevated into alignment with the spot light, and thus impart the colorof the selected color screen to thelight emanating from the illuminatingdevice; or a modified color may be'obtained by the use of two or morescreens. At the bottom of the casing I have a lamp box with electriclights therein,

and on the opposite edges of such box there are apertures ;orslits. Inalignment with the pull rodsthere are strips of colored filmcorresponding'to .the color of the respective screens operated'by theassociated pull rods,

thereby enabling an attendant to readily choose the proper rod to bemanipulated to move the desired color screen. As another feature of myinvention, the pull rods may be operated-by solenoids or the like tomake remote control of thedevice possible.

My invention in its various aspects maybe more readily understood fromthe following description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my invention, showing the side thereofwhich is toward the spot light when in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 2 ofFig. 1.

Figure 3 is the opposite side elevation, taken in the direction of thearrow 3, of Fig. 1. I Figure 4c is a horizontal section on the line 44of Fig. 1, the direction of View being indicated by the arrows, showingthe lamp ox. I

Figure 5 is a detail verticalsection on the line 55 of Fig. l, with thedirection of View indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the color changer with portions of thehousing broken away to disclose the unit containing the moving framesand screens and showing the screens in their lowermost or withdrawnposition.

Figure 7 is a similar View, showing one of the screens in its elevatedor operative position in front of the spot light.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Figure 9 is a detail vertical section on the line 99 of Fig. 8 with thedirection of view as indicated.

Figure 10 is a detail horizontal section on the line 1()10 of Fig. 6,the view being taken in the direction of the arrows, showing the guidesfor the frames.

Figure 11 is a detail vertical section showing a modified form ofactuating means.

The casing 11 in which a removable unit 10 containing the color screensis housed, is formed with a front wall 14 and the rear wall 15. The rearwall is preferably hinged at 16 to the top wall 17; There is a largeopening 18 in both front and rear walls and on the rear wall there is anoutwardly extending flange 19 surrounding the opening 18 to fit aroundthe spot light. The front- .wall is provided with slide-ways 20 extending transversely thereacross, so that an additional color screen tothose housed in the casing may be utilized. The unit 10 is removablyinsertable into the casing 11, and comprises a rigid frame made up ofopposite side walls 12 and 13 connected by a bottom 30 and bars 17 atthe top, the bars 17 being spaced to permit ready replacement of thecolor screens after the unit 10 has been removed from the casing 11. Thefront 15 of the casing has an inwardly turned flange 21 at the bottom;and the hinged back also has a flange 22. These flanges engage a lampbox 23; and screws 25 may be inserted through the flange 21, firmlyholding the lamp box in position, it being understood that the casing 11is of such length that both the unit 10 and the lamp box 23 may beaccommodated therein.

The lamp box has a pair of inclined guideways 26 formed by bending astrip of metal to provide a channel 24 restricted along the topthroughout its length. Lamp sockets 27 are each mounted on a web 28having a T-head flange 29 fitting in the associated channel 24. Thisallows the lamps to be adjusted close to or remote from the sides of thelamp box so as to vary the intensity of the light by means of which theidentifying films are illuminated. The lamp box is open at the top butthe light is prevented from illuminating the screens by means of thebottom wall 30 of the unit 10.

The ends of the lamp box are preferably rounded, one end being providedwith a series of slots 31 and the other end with a series of rows ofapertures 32. The ends of the lamp box are formed of outer and innerwalls 33 and 34, the slots and apertures being formed through bothwalls; and strips of gelatine film 35 or the like may be slipped betweenthe walls and give different colors of illumination through the slotsand the apertures. These strips of color correspond to the associatedcolor screens hereunder mentioned, and are in alignment with the pullrods for operating the screens as hereunder set forth.

The construction and mounting of the sliding screens is substantially asfollows, having reference particularly to Figs. 6, 7 and 8:

On the side walls 12 and 13 of the unit 11 there are mounted slide-wayrods 36.

Each of these rods is threaded into a fixed nut 36 adjacent the bottomof the unit and is held in place at the upper end by an apertured lug36", allowing displacement of the rods and changing of the screen framecarriages 37 which are vertically slidable on these rods. The carriages37 preferably are U-shaped in cross section to permit insertion of thescreen frames 39. The eyes 40 attached to the U-sl1aped carriage 37 fitloosely around the rods 36 and thus permit ven tical movement of thescreens. The frames 39 having the transparencies are composed ofopposite thin plates of metal 41 having large apertures 41 therethroughwith the coloring material 42, such as gelatine, gripped between thesesheets and exposed through the apertures 41'; and a spring catch 42having one end 43 solidly attached to each of the carriages 37, and theother end engaging through apertures 44 in the associated plates 41 toreleasably retain the frame 39 within its carriage 37. On the lower edgeof each of the frames there is a slotted slide 45.

The manner of manipulating the screens to raise and lower them issubstantially as follows, having reference particularly to Figs. 6through 9:

On the bottom wall 30 of the unit 10 there are mounted a series of fixedrods 46; and on each of these rods there are two carriers 47 and 48constructed, asshown in Fig. 9, of a U-shaped strip of metal with apivot pin 49 connecting the upper parts of each. Soldered or otherwisesecured to each of the carrrers there is a pull rod 50 attached to thecarrier 47 and 51 attached to the carrier 48. These pull rods extendthrough apertures in the opposite sides of the casing.

A series of fixed bars 52 extend across the casing from side to side,there being one for each screen; and rigidly connected to each bar andto one of the side walls of the unit 10 there is a brace rod 53.Pivotally connected adjacent the upper end of the brace rod 53 there isanoperating lever 54which has a i small roller 55 engaging in the slideon the base of the associated screens. Pivotally connected to theoperating lever 54 intermenected to a link 60 which in turn is pivotedto the carrier 47 to which is connected the pull rod 50. Also to thelower end 59 of the bell crank there is pivotally connected a link 61,and to this at one end a lever 62, this lever 62 being pivotedintermediate its ends to the stationary bar 52 by a pivot 62 and pivotedat its other end to a link (33 which is pivotally connected to thecarrier 48, this latter carrier being attached to the pull rod 51.

The manner of controlling and operating the screens is substantially asfollows, having reference particularly to Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

Presuming all the screens are in their lowered position, as shown inFig. 6, if the operator pulls one of the pull rods on one side outwards,this transmits motion to the asso ciated carrier 47 and pulls on thelink 60, thus actuating the bell crank 57, swinging it from the positionshown in Fig. 6' to that shown in 7 which action pulls upward on thelink 56 and draws the link 56 into alignment with the upper part of thebell crank in the manner of an elbow joint and thrusts upwardly on theoperating lever 54 to elevate the carriage 37, the roller 55 travellinglaterally in the slot 45. This brings the apertures 42 into registerwith the openings 18 so that light passing through the openings iscolored by the selected screen 42. The movement of the bell crank pullsthe link 61 and pivots the lever 62 which pulls the link 63 to slide thecarrier as toward its side of the unit, so that the pull rod 51 isthrust outwardly. Thus when the rod on one side is pulled, the rod onthe opposite side is forced outwardly, hence it is immaterial whetherthe rod 50 or 51 is pulled to raise the screen, as the pulling movementon the rod 51 draws the carrier 48 to one side, operating the link 63and the links 62 to push the link 61 to actuate the bell crank from theposition of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7

It is to be understood that the cross bars 52, the brace 53 and thevarious links and levers, may be made quite thin and of sheet metal sothat a comparatively large number of screens may be housed in a casingwhich is comparatively thin from back to front.

It will be obvious that when a screen is raised by pulling out on thepull rods, thus imparting a color to the light thrown by the spot light,that another screen may be also pulled upwardly, combining the colorsand giving a color different from eitherof the screens, and in the samemanner, three or more color screens may be utilized together, givingcomposite colors. In order to remove the screens from the spot light, itis only necessary to thrust the pull rods inwardly far enough to swingthe links 56 and upward parts of the bell cranks 57 out of alignment,the weight of the screens then functioning to slide them downward. I

The object of having slots and apertures on opposite sides of the lampbox is so that the attendant, in fitting this box in the dark, may haveit correctly placed so that the color strips visible through the ends ofthe lamp box will correspond with the color screens in the casmg.Frequently the spot lights are in more or less inaccessible positionsand the operator may reach for these pull rods and operate them inaccordance with the illumination through the slots and the apertures inthe lamp box.

If it is desired to have a remote control for the device, I mount aseries of solenoids (see Fig. 11) on either of the opposite sides of thecasing and in such case they can be connected to adjacent pull rods ofadjacent screens, as one solenoid may operate each screen. The wires maythen be taken from the solenoids to a remote control switch so that thecolor screens may be controlled from a distance.

Various changes may be made in the principles of my invention withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, as set forth in the description,drawings and claims.

I claim:

1. A color changer comprising in combination a casing, a plurality ofscreens of different colors slidably mounted therein, and means carriedby said casing and operatable from opposite sides of the casing on theoutside thereof to selectively slide any screen optionally to or fromoperative position.

2. An illuminated color changer comprising in combination a box-likecasing having a plurality of slidable color screens, a plurality ofpull. rods extending outwardly from opposite sides of the casing, meansinterconnecting each of the pull rods and each of the screens wherebythe screens may be selectively slid longitudinally of the casing, therebeing an opening in the casing for projection of a spot light. p

3. A color changer comprising in combination a structure having aplurality of shift able color screens, an operating device for eachscreen, a lamp box affixed to said structure and having a lamp thereinand a plurality of openings therein with colors corresponding to each ofthe screens showing therethrough. each color being in-alignment with thedevice operating the screen of corresponding color.

4. A color changer comprising in combination a casing having a pluralityof slidable color screens, a plurality of pull rods extending outwardlyfrom opposite sides of said casing, each rod being connected to a screento slide same longitudinally of the casing, the casing having an openingfor the projection of light therethrough, a lamp box secured to thecasing having a plurality of colors on opposite sides, said colorscorresponding to the colors of the screens, and any particular colorbeing in alignment with the pull rods for operating the correspondingscreen.

5. A color changer comprising in combination a casing having a pluralityof slidable color screens, a plurality of pull rods extending outwardlyfrom opposite sides of said casing adjacent the bottom, each rod havinga link and lever connection to a screen to slide such screenlongitudinally of the casing, the casing having openings for theprojection of light therethrough, a lamp box secured to the casinghaving a plu 'ality of removable colors on opposite sides anddiiierentshaped openings to admit the light of said colors, the colorson opposite sides being in alignment with the rods operating similarcolors in the casing.

6. In a color changer, a casing having a plurality of slidable colorscreens, 7 each screen having a slotted slide, an operating leverpivoted to one side of the casing and operating in said slide, a bellcrank having a link, such link being connected to the lever, and a pullrod for each screen operatively connected to the bell crank.

7. In a color changer, a box-like casing having a slidable color screenwith aslot at the base of said screen, an operating lever engaging insaid slot and pivotally connected to one side of the casing, a bellcrank )ivoted on a fixed structure, a link engaging said lever andconnected to the crank by an elbow joint, a slidable push rod and a linkconnecting the other end of the bell crank to said push rod.

8. A color changer, as claimed in claim 7, a pull rod on the oppositeside of the easing, and a plurl-ity of links interconnecting the latterpull rod with the end of the bell crank opposite the elbow link.

9. In a color changer, a box-like casing having a, plurality of sliderods on oppositesides, a plurality of color screens, each slidable on apair of rods, each screen havinga slot at the lower end, a plurality offixed bars extending from side to side of the casing, a bell crank foreach screen, means pivotally connecting each of said bell cranks to thecross bar, a link pivoted at one end with anelbow joint to the operatingend of the bell crank, an operating lever pi votally connected to oneside of the casing and engaged within the slot on the associated screen,said elbow link beingpivoted at its-other end to said operating leverintermediate its ends, a plurality of fixed guide rods at the lower endof the easing, each having a pair of carriers thereon, pull rodsconnected to said carriers extending outwardly through the casing, andlinks and levers connected to said carriers through the end of the bellcrank opposite that having the elbow link.

10. In a color chan er, a box-like casing having a plurality'of siftable color screens, a lamp box secured to the lower end of thecasing, said box having a lamp adjustably mounted therein, the boxhaving double walls at one end forming slideways for strips of coloredmaterial and openings through said walls to illuminate said strips, andmeans to operate the color screens of the casing in alignment with thesaid color strips.

11. In a color changer,'a casing, means for removably attaching saidcasing to an illuminating device in position for the light emanatingtherefrom to pass through the casing,

a unit removably insertable in said casing, a

plurality of color screens, each slidable on a pair of rods and having atransversely extending slot, a plurality of bars fixed to said unit andextending laterally thereof, a bellcrank associated with each screen,means pivotally connecting each of said bellcranks to the cross .bar, alink pivoted at one end with an elbow joint tothe operating end of the:bellcrank, an operating lever pivotally connected to one side of theunit and engaged within the slot of the associated screen, said elbowlink being pivoted at its other end to said operating lever intermediatethe ends thereof, a plurality of fixed guide rods atthe lower end of theunit, each having a pair of'carriers slidably disposed thereon, pullrods connected to said carriers and extending outwards to be accessiblefrom the exterior of the casing, and links and levers connecting each ofsaid carriers to the associated bellcrank.

12. In a color changer,.a casing, means for removably mounting saidcasing upon an illuminating device in position for the light emanatingtherefrom to pass through the casing,-a unit removably insertable intosaid casing, a plurality of color screen carriages, each slida'ble upona pair of rods, a translucent color screen insertable into each of saidcarriages, means associated with each carriage for removably lockingsaid color screen therein, eac'h of said carriages having a slotextending transversely thereof, a plurality "of fixed (bars extendinglaterally of the unit, a bellcrank associated with .each carriage, meanspivotally connecting each of said bellcranks to the associated crossbar, a link pivoted at one end with an elbow joint to the operatingendof saidbellcranlnan operating lever pivotally connected to one sideofthe unitand engaged within the slot of the associated'carriage, saidelbow link'being pivoted at its other-end to said operating lever:intermediate the ends thereof, a plurality of fixed guide rodsextending transversely of the unit at its lower end, each having a pairof car riers thereon, a pull rod connected to each of said carriers andextending outwards to be accessible from the exterior of the casing, andlinks and levers connecting the carriers of each guide rod to theassociated bellcrank whereby the associated carriage is elevated whenone of the pull rods is pulled outwards to interpose the associatedscreen into said light and to push the other pull rod outwards of thecasing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIS STEWART DREW.

